Meth, pot, cash seized in Eureka

On Sunday, at about 7:11 AM, a Eureka Police Department officer on patrol observed two suspicious subjects sitting in a black Nissan Maxima parked in front of a motel on the 1300 block of 4th Street, Eureka. Due to on-going narcotics related activity in the vicinity, the officer decided to contact the subjects.

The officer contacted the passenger, later identified as Charles Lloyd Gay, who lied about his identity and gave the officer a false name. After observing Gay make furtive movements around the seat with his hands, the officer detained him outside the vehicle.

The officer subsequently located a baggy containing a small amount of methamphetamine in one of Gay's pockets. During a search of the vehicle, the officer found a Humboldt County Correctional Facility I.D. bracelet with Gay's name and picture on it. A records check revealed Gay had two felony warrants for his arrest. Gay was also on formal felony probation (twice over) for possession of a controlled substance.

During a further search of the Nissan, officers located over $2,800 cash, approximately 18 separate bags of processed marijuana, over 11 more grams of methamphetamine, a meth pipe, two digital gram scales, multiple gallon-sized re-sealable plastic bags (marijuana packaging materials), and a realistic-looking air pistol. The gross field weight of all the marijuana seized was 14 pounds. This included 15 separate gallon-sized Ziploc bags of marijuana bud weighing approximately 8 ounces (1/2 pound) each.

Gay, age 38 of Arcata, was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for possession of marijuana for sale, transportation of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, providing false identification to a peace officer, and probation violation.

The cash was seized as suspected drug sales proceeds and later turned over to the Humboldt County Drug Task Force for asset forfeiture proceedings. The female driver was sent on her way without charges.